A new youth provision at Audley & Queen’s Park Children’s Centre is near completion, as part of almost £10m of new investment in facilities for young people across Blackburn with Darwen.
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When it opens, the children’s centre will be able to offer a universal youth provision for the first time. The site already includes a nursery and an adult learning centre.
The council secured £1.1m for the project through the Government’s Youth Investment Fund.
The new space will include a gaming area and a STEM suite with a focus on cyber skills. A new teaching kitchen has also been added, and the café area has been refurbished.
The IMO charity will run the centre. It has worked in the Audley & Queen’s Park area for the last 20 years.
Councillor Julie Gunn, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and executive lead for Children and Education, said: “This is a shining example of what we do so well in BwD – strong partnership working to improve the lives of our residents and our communities.
“This project at Audley & Queen’s Park Children’s Centre will bring youth provision right to the very heart of this community.
“It is great that we managed to secure the funding, but what is much more important is what we can deliver now with IMO. Already they have done so much for this community and now they can build on those foundations.
“As a council we can only do so much, but together projects like this can help make a real difference. We are on a mission to ensure every child and young person has the opportunities to fulfil their potential – this is an important part of that.”
IMO Chief Executive Mohammed Tayyab Sidat MBE said: “First and foremost, I would like to thank the council for understanding the needs of our community and helping to secure this vital funding and delivering this new youth facility, which is much needed and will be invaluable in supporting our youngsters.
“This youth facility will be open seven days a week and will help support young people and their parents and carers at the heart of the community.
“There will be a huge range of sessions – from educational support to employability and more.
“It will be a safe place for young people to come, but it is more than just a youth centre, it is a beacon of light.”
IMO has already been carrying out outreach work and says feedback so far has helped shape the new space and the sessions and support on offer.
That will include educational support, mental health support, employability help and targeted support for young people not in education, employment or training. There will also be support for parents and guardians.
The work at Audley & Queen’s Park Children’s Centre has been delivered by Seddon, which recently completed the YIF redevelopment at Darwen Youth Centre.
Matthew Sargeson, Operations Director at Seddon, said: “We are proud to have delivered this important project at Audley & Queen’s Park Children’s Centre, creating a high-quality, modern space that will benefit young people across the community.
“The new facilities have been designed to support learning, skills development and wellbeing.
We look forward to seeing the centre become a vibrant hub that supports young people to grow, learn and reach their full potential.”
The Youth Investment Fund is funded by the UK Government and is delivered by Social Investment Business in partnership with Resonance, Key Fund and National Youth Agency.
